Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginger Webb
Hi Ginger, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had an epiphany while working in the environmental movement in my 20s: for people to care enough to want to protect the Earth, we each need to have a relationship with the Earth and with the environment. At about the same time, I stumbled upon the field of herbalism and felt very strongly that this was a way for me to experience and build that relationship with the Earth and the plants around me. I became very curious and put all of my attention into following this “green path”. I studied on my own, explored wild landscapes using field guides, went to conferences, read books, and found work in the field. While working at the American Botanical Council in Austin in the 90s, I decided that I wanted to study with an herbalist in order to learn the craft. I found my teacher, herbalist Michael Moore, through his herb books and went to study with him in Arizona in 1999. Upon completion of the program, I returned to Austin and started an herbal medicine making business named Texas Medicinals which I operated for 24 years before selling it to a longtime student in 2023. During this time, I was also teaching herbalism, leading plant walks, doing herbal consultations, and raising a child. Since the sale of Texas Medicinals in 2023, my focus today is primarily on teaching full-time at the school I founded here in Austin. Sacred Journey School of Herbalism does not have a brick and mortar location; we meet in outdoor locations all over central Texas to learn about the wild plants growing around us, how to identify them, build relationships with them, and make medicine with them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am sure there were struggles, but I knew I was on the right path and that I would make it work no matter what. To be honest, I have experienced more grace than struggle, and I give full credit for everything good that has happened to me directly to the plants themselves.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a community herbalist. I work directly with living plants, communing with them, studying them, harvesting them and making medicine with them. As an herbalist, I think of myself as a matchmaker: finding the right person for the right plant, and vice versa. What I am most known for is my expertise in the area of Texas bioregional herbalism, as well as my deep love for the wild plants. I am also a master herbal medicine maker, having made tens of thousands of gallons of herbal extracts over the past 30 years.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The field of herbal education is flourishing locally as well as on the national level. Locally, I see a resurgence of indigenous and other BPOC folks reclaiming their wisdom, practices, and traditions around herbal medicine. People are learning about the plants that live around them and are creating communities based around gardening and caring for these plants. It is a beautiful thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gingerwebb.com
- Instagram: @sacredjourneyherbalism, @gingerwebbherbalist
- Facebook: Sacred Journey School of Herbalism
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginger-webb-2073234/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GingerWebbHerbalist
